Throw and catch ball game

ABSTRACT

A hand-held, hand-manipulated catch ball game comprising a ball used with an assembly of two opposing receptacles, one above the other, each having ball exit openings positioned to direct the ball along an open ended track. A handle is located at the track side midway between the receptacles and the track ends. The assembly handle is held by the player&#39;s hand with the thumb of the hand toward the open end of the track. The ball is placed on the receptacle end of the track and the assembly is tilted to roll the ball down the track. As the ball nears the track end, the player manipulates the assembly to throw the ball a short distance upward into the air. The player then quickly rotates the assembly approximately one hundred eighty degrees to catch the ball in the previously downward facing receptacle. Having caught the ball, the assembly is again tilted to roll the ball down the track to be thrown and caught again to continue to play, with alternately clockwise/counterclockwise rotation, to see how many times the ball can be thrown and caught without having to replace the ball on the track by hand.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/139,832, filed Jun. 21, 1999.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a throw-and-catch ball game wherein the usermanipulates a hand-held implement to launch a ball into the air and thento catch the ball in a receptacle at one end of the implement.

The implement has two oppositely-facing ball tracks and a ballreceptacle at one end of each track. Each receptacle has a side openingfor allowing the ball to move from the receptacle onto the associatedtrack, whereby the implement can then be manipulated to launch the ballinto the air for capture by the other receptacle.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,184 to Joseph Cavaliere and U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,174to Gerald W. Cummings show throw-and-catch ball apparatus. The presentinvention improves on this patented apparatus in that the implement usedin playing the game is manipulated so that the person's wrist is rotatedapproximately one hundred eighty degrees between the ball-launchingevent and the ball-catching event. A greater degree of skill isrequired, as compared with the skill level required with the apparatusof U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,184 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,174.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the FIG. 1 apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3—3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the FIG. 1 apparatus, taken in thedirection of arrow 4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view taken in the same direction as FIG. 2, but showinganother apparatus constructed according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 apparatus in the grasp of auser's hand, e.g. while the apparatus is in use.

FIG. 7 shows the FIG. 1 apparatus in various positions during theprocess of launching and catching a ball.

FIG. 8 is top plan view of another apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 9 is a view of another handle of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 10—10 of FIG.8.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 11—11 of FIG.8.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view as seen from the right side of FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a hollow ball, such as a ping pong ballwhich may be partially filled with a fluid or loose granular material toreduce the tendency of the ball bouncing out of the receptacle.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate an apparatus embodying the invention. Theapparatus includes a hand-held implement 10 that comprises an elongatedbar structure 12 and two oppositely-facing ball receptacles 14, 14extending from one end of the bar structure. A handle 16 extendslaterally from the bar structure at a location approximately midwaybetween receptacles 14 and the free end 18 of the bar structure.

Opposite side surfaces of bar structure 12 have concave cross-sections,as shown at 20, 20 in FIG. 3, to form two sets of laterally spaced rails22, 22. The concave cross-sections conform to the surface contour of aball 24, such that the ball can roll freely along the concave surface.Rails 22, 22 form tracks that prevent ball 24 from rolling off the sideedges of bar structure 12.

Each ball receptacle 14 has a frusto-conical, funnel shape designed toreceive ball 24 when implement 10 is manipulated so that the receptacleis directly under a downwardly-falling ball, as shown in FIG. 6. Eachreceptacle 14 has an open mouth 26 with a diameter that is approximatelytwice the diameter of ball 24. Bottom wall 28 of each receptacle has aconcave spherical contour that merges smoothly with the concave surfacecontour 20 on the bar structure side surface. An enlarged opening 30 inthe receptacle sidewall permits the ball to roll from the receptacleonto the track formed by surface contour 20. The receptacles and trackstructures on each side of the bar structure are similar to each other(i.e. mirror images of each other).

In using the apparatus, the user grasps handle 16 in the manner shown inFIG. 6. While holding implement 10 so the uppermost track is in ahorizontal position, the user drops ball 24 into the upwardly facingreceptacle 14; inertial forces cause the ball to roll onto the uppermosttrack.

By turning the handle 16 slightly, it is possible to launch ball 24upwardly from the free end 18 of the bar structure. The user cancontinue the handle 16 rotation for approximately one hundred eightydegrees to bring the downwardly-facing receptacle 24 into an upwardlyfacing condition. By appropriate manipulation of implement 10, the usercan bring the upwardly-facing receptacle 14 to a position beneath theairborne ball 24. The ball falls into the receptacle, and rolls onto theassociated track 22 for the next cycle. The user reverses the directionof wrist motion during each successive cycle.

An object of the game is accomplishing as many throw-and-catch cycles aspossible before failure to catch the ball. Alternatively, the game canbe played, with the object being to accomplish as many throw-and-catchcycles as possible in a given time period.

FIG. 7 shows the sequence of motions occurring during cyclic movement ofimplement 10. Initially, receptacle 14 a faces upwardly to receive ball24. The ball rolls from receptacle 14 a onto the uppermost track 22 a,as shown in the top-most illustration. After the ball has been launched,the user rotates his wrist in a counterclockwise direction as thereceptacle assembly moves along pathline 30 until receptacle 14 b is inan upwardly-facing condition (as shown in the intermediateillustration). Ball 24 is caught in receptacle 14 b and allowed to rollalong associated track 22 b for the next launch event. The user thenreverses the direction of wrist rotation, so that the receptacleassembly is moved along pathline 32 to the position depicted in thelowermost illustration.

A successful launch and catch cycle requires considerable skill,dexterity, and hand-eye coordination.

As compared to the skill level required by the games depicted inaforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,887,184 and 4,863,174, the game of thepresent invention has a considerable greater skill level, due to therequired dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Some variation in the construction of implement 10 can be employed whilestill practicing the invention. For example, the track structures canhave various different lengths and cross-sections. Additionally,receptacles 14 can be cup shaped or a combination of essentiallyvertical outer walls with frusto-conical inside walls. In either design,the enlarged opening 30 in the receptacle side can be a continuousopening extending vertically upward from the receptacle base 28 to thereceptacle open mouth 26. Also, the implement can be molded, orotherwise formed, in one or more pieces, according to manufacturing costconsiderations. FIG. 5 shows a variant of the invention wherein eachtrack 22 has an upturned free end, to facilitate the launch of ball 24.In all major respects, the FIG. 5 implement functions in the samefashion as the FIG. 1 implement.

FIGS. 8 to 12 illustrate another embodiment of the invention comprisinga hand-held implement 100.

Implement 100 comprises an elongated bar structure 112 and twooppositely-facing ball receptacles 114, 114 extending from one end ofthe bar structure. A handle 116 having an opening 117, extends laterallyfrom the bar structure at a location approximately midway betweenreceptacles 114 and the free end 118 of the bar structure.

Opposite side surfaces of bar structure 112 have channel-shapedcross-sections, as shown at 120, 120 in FIG. 11, forming two sets oflaterally spaced rails 122, 122. The channel-shaped cross-sections guidea ball 124, such that the ball can roll freely between the rails. Rails122, 122 prevent ball 124 from rolling off the side edges of barstructure 112.

Referring to FIG. 13, ball 124 is preferably a hollow ball partiallyfilled with a fluid 126 such as water or loose solid material 126 toreduce the tendency of the ball bouncing out of the receptacles. Notethat receptacles 114, 114 are shallower than receptacles 14, 14.

Each cup-like receptacle 114 has an open mouth 128 having a diameterthat is approximately twice the diameter of ball 124. The bottom wall ofeach receptacle is a continuation of surface 120 of the bar structure112. An enlarged opening 130 in the receptacle sidewall permits the ballto roll from the receptacle onto the track surface 120 between rails122, 122. The receptacles and track is structures on each side of thebar structure are similar to each other (i.e. mirror images of eachother).

The FIG. 8 implement functions in the same manner as the FIG. 1implement.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative handle structure 132.

Having described my invention, I claim:
 1. A ball game apparatus,comprising: a hand-held implement that includes an elongated barstructure having first and second ends; first and second ballreceptacles located at said first end of said bar structure; said ballreceptacles facing in opposite directions; said bar structure havingfirst and second elongated tracks facing in opposite directions; saidfirst receptacle having a first opening therein for rolling a ball ontosaid first track; said second receptacle having a second opening thereinfor rolling a ball onto said second track; and each of said trackshaving an unobstructed ball-launching surface remote from the associatedreceptacle; whereby said implement can be manipulated so that a ball canbe launched from one track and then captured in the ball receptacleassociated with the other track.
 2. A ball game apparatus as defined inclaim 1, in which the bar structure is a linear structure following apair of linear tracks.
 3. A ball game apparatus as defined in claim 1,in which the first and second ball receptacles are disposed on oppositesides of the bar structure.
 4. A ball game apparatus as defined in claim1, in which the receptacles have a frusto conical side walls.
 5. A ballgame apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a ball at leastpartially filled with a material that reduces the bounce characteristicsof the ball.
 6. A ball game apparatus as defined in claim 5, in whichthe material comprises sand.
 7. A ball game apparatus as defined inclaim 5, in which the material comprises a liquid.
 8. A method ofplaying a throw-and-catch ball game, comprising: a. holding an implementin one hand, wherein said implement has two oppositely-facing balltracks, and a ball receptacle communicating with each of said tracks; b.moving the implement to launch a ball from one track; c. rotating thewrist in one direction approximately one hundred eighty degrees to catchthe ball in the receptacle associated with the other track; d. movingthe implement to launch the ball from said other track; and e. rotatingthe wrist in the other direction approximately one hundred eightydegrees to catch the ball in the receptacle associated with said onetrack.